Metal building construction



'June 1, 1937 E. w. INGRAM El AL METAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 25, 1935 Patented June I, 1937 PATENT OFFICE aosas'is mum. ammo. coNs'mUc'nou Edgar w. Ingram and Loyd w. Bay, Columbus, Ohio, assignora to .Whlte Castle syltem, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation oi Delaware Application .Biaroh 25. 1935, Serial No. 12,858

Claims. (01. 189-84) This invention relates to metal building construction of the type wherein its elemental parts may be standardized. pre-iabricated and stocked, and then as desired taken to the site of the pro- 5 posed building and there quickly assembled and erected into the desired building without special cutting and fitting and with only ordinary tools and workmen. It further contemplates the socalled knock-down type of building, which, it oocasion requires, may be readily taken down and transported to a new location and there again erected for use, or the parts may be re-stocked or stored for future use.

More particularly the present invention relates to the wall construction oi such buildings involving such members as the studding and the parts associated therewith, although such structural members are or may be frequently used in other relations in and about the building, such, for instance, as cross member or beams above and below windows, doors, or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure of the class described that shall be highly efllcient, of comparatively low cost and attractive 25 in appearance.

Another object is the provision of "such a structure wherein there is no tendency to displace, distort or strain the outside paneling by the stresses imposed when incorporated in a building.

30 Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description to follow andthe appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawing, which shows several embodiments of the invention. In this drawing,-

35 Fig. 1 is a perspective horizontal section of a portion of a wallet a building of the type referred to, two vertical studs and associated parts being shown Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with one stud only,

40 of another form of studding;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing still another form of studding;

1 Fig. 4 is a simflar view showing another form of studding; 45 Fig. '5 is a detail view of the bearing of the adjusting screws of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a perspective sectional view of a dinerent studding and associated parts.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, sections of 50 two studs and the outsideand inside wall panels associated therewith are shown assembled and attached together to form a complete wall structure. Such walls may be of the desired dimensions but ordinarily have an over-all thickness 55 of about six inches; the studding are spaced as necessity may require, but ordinarily several feet apartiand the wall panels are of corresponding width and of the desired height,- usually several feet where no openings or other obstructions interfere. v 5

The outside panels 20, which may be of suitable sheet metal and, if desired, lined with a sound-deadening material 2i, which may also be of heat-insulating quality, and having rearwardly and inwardly bent side edges 22, are firmly se- 10 cured by said edges to the studding and form the outer or outside facing of the wall. The inside facing of the wall is formed by the panels 23,

which may be of thin sheet metal or other material, and are likewise secured, as hereinafter ex- 15 plained, at their vertical edges to the studding.

I Both the outside and inside panels may be coated on their outer faces with porcelain enamel, which i may be plain and of any desired finish or color. The sheets or finish or both may be formed to resemble brick. tile or other configuration.

The studding comprise, preferably sheet metal members rolled or drawn in half-stud sections with their web portions 24 placed back to back and preferably suitably spot-welded together, 25 with the welds on four-inch centers staggered, although'they may be bolted or otherwise secured together. Y

A longitudinal shoulder 25 is formed in the web, as indicated, and the outer edge is bent outwardly at right angles, as at 26, to form a flange.

These two oppositely extending edge portions 26 form the end flange or head ofthe completed stud. A sheet metal finishing or trim strip 21 may be slipped over the stud flanges 26, 26.

As shown, the studing extends through between the separated or spaced edges of the wall panels 20' to the outside of the panels and to secure them ilrmly in position the panels are pressed or pushed outwardly against the studding flange or head, instead of being pulled inwardly against the stud by an outside key or clamping device, as in some structures.

In order thus to push the panels outwardly in this form of Fig. 1, suitable metal wedges 28 are driven into position between the shoulders 25 and the adjacent edges 22 of the pans 20. These wedges may pass through suitable slots in the webs 24 of the stud and a retaining pin 2% in wedge form may be driven down through a hoie or slot in the main wedge 28 on the opposite side of the web to hold the wedge 28 in its wedging position tightly between the shoulder and pan edge. These wedges are placed at frequent intervals throughout thev length of. the stud as may be ing the finish,'if any, by any, unevenness of pres- I sure in tne'ciampine. j I

At the'opposite edge 'of the stud the metalis bent outwardly .from the web and thence for is wardly' to form a channel for thenailing or furri'ng upper-wedge may'hold only the left handpanel,

while the lower wedge'holds only the right hand panel. This enables the workman to mount a' succeeding panel after a preceding one has been secured in place. By thus pushing thepans orpanels out against in its flat, natural, definite and ,fixed'plane and there is no danger of surface disfigurement by the displacement of the various panels consti-- tuting the face of the wall or distorting, bending or springing the panels, with possibility ofcrackstrip 30, which is preferablyv of wood or' other suitable material, alittle thi'oker than the depth of the channel to prevent? the' edgfes of the latter from .phys ically contacting 'with thdmetal in'-' sideSpanels 23, to insulate the latter from direct a contact withthe former, to prevent transmission of frost, .s'ou'nd vibrationscr the like.

'I 'his. fu rring strip'3ll. maybe secured in its r channel in anyv desired way, as by nails, screws,

prongs,.or other desired means.

The inside panels 23, are secured at: theirvertical side edges tothe nailing strips 30,, by nails, screws or inany desired way, and their adjacent edges and securing means may be covered by a suitable trim strip'of sheet metalor other material- As thus constructed, the parts may be made and assembled in a factory. When the framework of the building has been erected, the outside panels are slipped in place and the wedges tightened. Any desired insulating material, such as rock wool, may be packed into the open spaces and the inside panels secured in place. If for any reason it isdesired to dismantle the building, the reverse operations are quickly performed. In case of accident or other cause, individual k panels, either inside or outside, may be removed or replaced.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the construction is the same except that the web of the stud has no shoulder but a pair of clamping lugs 3| at frequent intervals, are placed on opposite sides or the weband are secured in position by the clamping bolt 32 passing through the web. These lugs are slotted for the passage of the bolt, whereby they may be adjusted back and forth without removing the bolt entirely, and they may be serrated or roughened, as at 33, near the bolt where they bear against the web, the better to hold them in their tightened positions. Their opposite ends are notched to provide a seat 34 to bear against the ln-tumed edge flange of the outside panel 20, and a lip portion 35 extending into the space between the web and panel.

In order firmly to press the panel against the head 01 the studding the lugs 3| are pressed tight- When desired to loosen the panel for any rea- .son, the reverse operations take place.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, instead of rigid lugs, a pair of spring metal lugs 3G, as'shown, are securely bolted to the web of the stud and when the panel is in place may be sprung into the position shown, with their bent ends 31 seated against the inside edge of the panel 20 and thus to tightly press the same against the outer flange or head of the stud.

These spring clamps may likewise be adjustably bolted to the web if desired.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the pan, panel or other surface material is held inplace by a rock- I ing"screwlug, the base for which is welded to the flanges or heads of the-studding-the outer face of the panels and of the'wall' is'maintain'edthe'opposite bottom portion of the nailing strip channel." Thus, a 'rod or tubular member 38, .counterbored and internally threaded, to receive a screw. bolt 39, fitsagainst the edge of the pan,

'the same being notched across the end, as at 40, to flt'over the said edge flange of the pan 20 and thereby being prevented fromturning. The

, 1 bolt 39 has .a nut 4| secured rigidly thereto and the 'end, of said boltis bluntlypointed and seats in a recess, in the disc-l'ikebase 42,. which is,

"welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the nailing strip channel of the stud. r This construe.-

ti'on per mits' a rocking bearing of this end of the Y clamping member even though said member is ping. There is no cutting or special forming of the web; These screw clampingdevices, like the lugs of the other forms, are placed at the desired intervals. throughthe length of the stud. In Fig. 6 the studding proper is made of one piece 'of sheet metal 'by ,reversely bending the material in theflang'e or head and carrying the same across the head or flange. Thus the material is carried across as at 43 and the two halfstuds are not separated. In this instance too a trim strip may be put around these flanges to form a part of the head. In this form, too, the webs are spaced apart sufliciently to receive an elongated reinforcing member 44 to which the webs are preferably welded. Adjusting and pushclamping screw bolts 45 at intervals are threaded through this bar and bear upon wooden or similar blocks 46 having a metal housing 41 which pass transversely through suitably enlarged holes in the webs of the studding and bear adjacent their ends on the edges of the panels 20. Tightenin of the bolts 45 thus clamps the pans 20 against the outer head or flange of the studding. The rocking motion and tolerance of the wooden blocks take up any variation in the flange or the turned up or in portion of the panel. In this form too the outside panels may be removed or replaced from the inside without disturbing the inside panels, holes being formed in the nailing strip for access to the bolts 45.

there is no danger of the'clamp loosening or slipv Instead of turning out the stud sheet to form the furring strip channel edge, the same may be turned in the opposite direction, as at 48, instead of forwardly, the more usual way, as indicated by the dotted lines 49; and in that case the triangular prongs 50 may be used, the same being bent at their sharp ends and driven into the edge of the furring strip, while their other ends are bent to flt over the rear flanges 48.

Various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth or intended to be set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A building wall construction comprising in combination, aligned wall panels, built-up sheet metal studding having webs extending between the edges of the panels with heads outside the panels, oppositely disposed laterally extending shoulders formed on the said webs inside the panels, wedges adapted to be driven between the shoulders and the inside edges of the panels to clamp a selected one of the panels firmly against the inside of the heads, and means for locking said wedge in clamping position.

2. A building construction comprising, in combination, wall panels, sheet metal studding having webs extending between the edges of the panels with heads outside the panels, and means 00- Operating with the studding and movable transversely of the plane of the web to clamp the panels against said heads, said webs having laterally extending shoulders, said clamping means cooperating with one of said shoulders to clamp only a corresponding panel against said heads.

3. A building construction comprising, in combination, wall panels, sheet metal studding having webs extending between the edges of the panels with heads outside the panels, said webs having laterally extending shoulders and openings through said webs between said shoulders and said heads, and reversible means movable through said openings and cooperating with the shoulder on one side to clamp corresponding panels against said heads.

4. A building construction comprising, in combination, wall panels, sheet metal studding having webs extending between the edges of the panels with'heads outside the panels, said webs having laterally extending shoulders and openings through said webs between said shoulders and said heads, reversible means movable through said openings and cooperating with said shoulders to clamp corresponding panels against corresponding sides of said heads, and means to lock said movable means in clamping position.

5. A building wall construction comprising, in combination, algined wall panels, a built up sheet metal studding, said studding comprising substantially flat sheet metal strips secured together to form webs extending between the edges of the panels, and forming a head outside said panels, laterally extending shoulders formed on said strips inside said panels, and wedges adapted to be driven between said shoulders and the inside edge of a single panel whereby each web clamps only its corresponding panel snugly against the inside of said head.

EDGAR W. INGRAM. LOYD W. RAY. 

